Shoe press



June 29,1948.

P. BRAUNER l 2,444,331

SHOE PRESS 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1946 y INVENTOR.

Jime 29, 1948.

SHOE PRESS Filed March 22, 1946 P. BRAUNER:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR.

Patented June 29, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in shoe presses and the like. More particularly it relates to shoe presses ofythe general type which have a principal utility for attaching soles to shoe upper structures and which include an inflatable pad and relatively flxed abutments between which the shoe elements are inserted and subjected to sole-attaching pressure when the pad is inflated. The invention provides improvements in the inflatable pad of such a press whereby the pad is more efficient and effective in the performance of its sole-pressing functions, and provides improved mechanism for operating the pad to its elevated and retracted positions with coacting control and timing of the pad-inflating and pad-deflating operations. Also the invention improves the structure and adjustment characteristics of the relatively fixed abutments which coact with the pad during each pressing operation, whereby the press is more readily and quickly adaptable to handle various sizes and styles of shoes as compared with prior comparable presses of which I am aware.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a shoe press comprising an inflatable pad having a plurality of fluid-tight chambers therein with a fluid-impervious flexible wall dividing the chambers, and in which inflation of the pad involves admission and exhaust of pressure fluid from one only of the chambers while the volume of fluid in another chamber of the pad continues constant.

Another object is to provide toggles for elevating and retracting the pad coacting with means for inflating the pad in response to an elevating movement thereof and means for deflating the pad prior to retraction of the pad.

A further object is to provide a toggle-actuated inflatable pad having means for fluid pressure operation of the toggles for elevating the pad and having means responsive to elevation of the pad for fluid pressure inflation of the pad, there being means for operation of the toggles for retracting the pad following deflation of the pad.

Still another object is to provide an abutment above the pad including a tongue-in-groove suspension of the abutment and a series of vertically spaced grooves any opposite pair of which may be selected for said tongue-in-groove suspension of the abutment whereby the abutment may be quickly set at selected elevations.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve the structure and operation of shoe presses and more particularly presses having an inflatable pad for applying the pressure to elements engaged between the pad and one or more relatively fixed coacting abutments.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a shoe press embodying features of my invention, portions thereof being in medial cross-section to more clearly portray interior structures;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 2--2 of Fig 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; and

and deflatable pad indicated generally at M may be at a convenient elevation with respect to an operator standing or sitting at the press.

According to the invention, the pad i4 comprises a metal body l6 providing the bottom and side walls of a chamber l8 whose top wall is formed by a resilient diaphragm 20 which conveniently may be a sheet of rubber. The body i6 is provided with the out-turned flange 22 which extends all around the body for constituting a seat for the marginal portion of the diaphragm 20.

The sole-engaging wall 24 of the pad is made of heavy flexible material which itself is impervious to air or which is treated to render it impervious to air. Preferably it is made of relatively thick leather whose inner surface is suitably treated to make it impervious to air. The leather is molded to the general shape as illustrated including the vertical walls 26 extending all around the pad and the out-turned flange 28 also extending all around the pad.

The out-turned flanges 22 and 28 of the body Ni and leather 24 respectively, with the margin of diaphragm 20 between them, are clamped together all around the pad by means of a clamping strip 30 and the screws or bolts 32, the screws or bolts extending through the clamping strip, flange 28, diaphragm 20 and flange 22, and each having a nut 34 screwed thereon on the under side of the body flange.

It is a feature of the invention that the chamber 18 of the pad, below the diaphragm 2|] may be filled with water or other liquid and the amount of liquid in chamber l8 remains con- 3 stant during use of the pad. However, the liquid can shift within the chamber l8 to permit diaphragm 23 to respond and adapt itself according to the pressures applied from above.

The molded leather sole-engaging member 24, as a result of its molded form, provides a second chamber 36 within the pad, and this chamber 36 is the Work chamber through which inflation and deflation of..the..pad is effected. Air under pressuretfrom; any-"suitable source may be; directed into chamber 35 through the rigid body wall id of the pad, the rubber diaphragm 20 being provided with a depending cup or well .po-r

tion 2i which extends down to the body-.vw'all iii with the bottom of the cup orwell clamped The clamp is shown in the nipple --of "a flexible conduit '46.

The lower chamber'i 8' of the pad maybe filled with liquidthrough the'valvednnl'et 48 in' the bottom wall it, and thechambermaybefdrained of liquidwhen" de'siredby-merely opening the .valve at. .A ventconduit 49 having petcock -iil therein is openedfor-*escape'of air fromchamber ifvwhen it, is being filled and for inflow" of air when "'chamberi8yisjbeing drained .of- '1iq uid.

"Assuming that'chamber! B-is' filledwi'th "liquid, it will be obvious that i the 'padas' a 'whole 'may .be inflated by admitting air under" pressure through nipple il'i into"theirelaitivelysmall upper chamber-"33, to cause thei fleXiblesole-enga'ging wall 2G to generally conformic a'sole engaged ltherewith and"to press theqsole against a 'shoe .upper. structure, lthe .liquid' in chamber" 1 8 adjusting itself, so, that, ldiaphragmifl can respond to p-ressurefrom iabove and Tshape itsel-f accc-rdingly. "Thus, the. padreadily and effectively vadaptsitself to particular sole contours andis quicklyliriflatable .and 'deflatabl because of the .relatively small "volume .of air .or ,otherTfluid which. is, deliv'erdtto. andl'discha'rged'i from chamher'SB.

According .to the;invention,' however. the pad i as a Whole is "elevated prior to many-mne- .tion of the ..pad ..and retracted following each deflation .of the .pa'd. ".lThis'I is accomplished. by

toggle mountoLthe padtonj. horizontal. portion i i..of frame. i8. Two. depending. ears. filiitoward the inner end ,of bodyljtfi of lithe pad and two similar .dependingears '52 .towardthe outerend of-said bodyeachlhas .a.to:ggle,linkl54,pivotally extending between .and .ipivotally. connected at its. oppositeends to thegpivot. rodsI58, 60, .so'that .theinner andv outer links 5d. move in-unison.

.The part l i of frame liii has two .upstanding vearsfi i generally under the innerIdepending ears 1' to of the pad body, and has two similar upstanding ears 66 generally un'dentheouter.depending ears 52 .of the pad .body,-. eachwith. the. lower .end

.ofatoggleilinkififi pivotally connected to it at Hi. The. innertto ele, linksfiB 'have'their .upper. ends pivotally connected l to the floating; pivot rod" 58 v and the outer toggle'linksta'have their upper ends pivotally connected to the floating pivot rod '60.

A cylinder :2 is provided in or on the frame it with a piston "id operable therein, the piston rod 76 extending out of the cylinder and being pivotally connected at E8 to one end of a link 88 whose other end is pivotally connected to the floating pivot rod 5%. A spring 82 within the cylinder constantly urges the piston id to the left as viewed in'Fig. 1 although, in Fig. 1, the

piston is shown moved to the right as when air or other fluid under pressure has been admitted to the cylinder 72 on the left hand side of piston "r'lfiiin Fig. l to force the piston to the right against the bias of spring 82 and to elevate the pad i l by straightening the toggles, as shown in Fig. l. Al-movement of piston M to the left from its position of Fig. 1 will break the toggles to retract "or lower the pad.

Preferably, the inner wall of the cylinder has an -adjustable bushing' 'l threaded thereinancl the piston rod "it extends slidably throughthe bushing. with astop collar 7? pinnedthereto for l-imiting travel'of the piston to the right in Fig, 1. The-bushingmay be adjusted in the cylinder wall to set'the-limit of travel of the piston tothe -right in-Fig.-1, and may be locked. in adjusted position by the lock. 'nut 53;

' l-n' 'order that the movements'of pad l t may be "entirely-vertical, the body it of thepad has the "depending guide members 85 which slidably engage-between upstandingflxed guides 88 which permit needed vertical movements-of the pad "but restrain the pad against swinging movements -inresponse to operations of the toggles. Also the "depending guide members 8 5 may be designed to strike a-flxed abutment at the limit of'doW-nward travel of the pad'thereby to limit the travel of piston M to the left in Fig. 1.

Operation of piston "i i to the right in Fig. 1 is "effected by air or other fluid under pressure deliveredinto the left hand end of cylinder 12 from any suitable source; andspring 82 moves piston"? to theleft in Fig. 1, when the left hand end of -4 the cylinder is opened to atmosphere.

'Conveniently,air or other fluid from a common :source may operate piston M and also inflate the pad Hi. "In Fig. 1 there is represented diagrammatically an ordinary four way valve-88- for controlling pressure fluid in a supplyconduit 93 leadin'g'from any suitable source. In its position of Fig. .1, the valve 881s inposition connecting'sup- .ply conduit siiwith'a conduit 92 which leads to a 'ductfiiextending vertically throughthe frame partlliL' Duct M at its upperend is connected to 'a' T-"fitting '96v whose opposite T-arms are connectedrespectively to conduits 98, I08. Conduit {98.connects with a conduit 1W2 leading intothe .left end of cylinder 12, with a check valvelil l in conduit Qtfor a purpose which will app-ear. Con- .duit Hififileadsto valve casing N36 having va normally closedvalve which is open'able'by depression of its projecting, plunger N38. The lowerend -.of .jfleir-i;ble conduit leading fromthenipple 65 lfijofthe pad i4 is connected into valve casing l0=3 arid, when the plunger i533 is'depressed'to' open the valve, the conduit 8% is open'through'the valve into conduit 16.

I "Withtheparts in'.their positions'of Fig. 1,' fluid 7 under pressure is open intocyiinder l2;'and,pis-

ton M hasbeen moved to the right, and the toggl'sfhaVe been moved tothe right','inc1uding connecting rod 62. "The pad as awhole is in its elevated position. As connecting rod-B2 approaches'its position ofFigpl, a depending arm 0, having the adjustable head- II2, moves with the connecting rod and the head l I2 thereof engages and depresses plunger N38 to open the valve in valve casing Hi6. Hence, in Fig. 1, fluid under pressure is open into the upperchamber 35 of the pad for inflating the pad.

After the pad has been elevated and inflated in the elevated position to apply sole attaching pressure between a sole and a shoe upper structure, the operator, by treadle: actuation, or otherwise, rotates control valve 88 through ninety degrees incounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby to cut oii the pressure fluid supply and to open conduit 92 through the valve toatmosphere. However, the checkvalve I04 in conduit 98 is such that pressure fluid in cylinder 12 can escape only slowly past the check valve. Hence, when control valve 88 connects conduit 92 to atmosphere, the exhaust from cylinder I2 is relatively slow and the pistonsrnovement'to the left is correspondingly slow. Hence plunger ms of the valve in valve casing ms continues depressed an ample time for complete deflation of the pad before the valve at I86 closes.

When the piston and toggles have moved to the left until maximum retraction of thepad occurs, the apparatus is ready for repetition of the cycle when the operator moves the control valve 83to its position of Fig. 1 to again connect the pressure fluid supply conduit 98] with the conduit 92.

It will be obvious that, prior to each elevation and inflation of the pad E ias above described, a shoe upper structure and a sole will be positioned between the pad and unyielding members which support the shoe parts against the pressure applied when the paths inflated.

According to the invention, the upper end of frame It has a horizontal re'ctangular hole H4 extending through it and a cross -head'rmember I20 extends slidably and adjustably through the hole i It. A set screw l2! or the like holds member I26 in any selected adjusted position and ordinarily it remains fixed after once having been set in a proper operative position.

As clearly seen in Fig. 1, the cross-head member I20 has substantial extent but of the upper end of frame ill above the pad i4, and has asocket ltd at its outer end forsupporting the crosshead extension member its which is formed at its outer end with the interiorly threaded vertical boss I28. A vertically extending screw I30 is threaded through boss 528 havingat its upper end the hand wheel i352 for manual adjustment of the screw and having at its lower end the" head 134 for engaging the rear portion of a last which customarily is in each shoe upper structure which is inserted in the press. A locking collar lSI is threaded on the screw ltd above the boss I28 for locking the screw in adjusted positions. The extension E25 is slid-ably adjustable in socket I24 and has a pin l25 for limiting its movement in the socket to the right'in Fig. 1.

It is a feature of the invention that the crosshead member lZll has its oppositefaces grooved as at I325, and the toe-engaging member I38 is suspended from the cross-head member I2Il by means of a yoke Hill having oppositely disposed tongues i 32 (Fig. 2) for engaging slidably in any particular oppositely disposed pair of the grooves I36 in cross-head member E28. depending screw part Md threadedinto the toeengaging member 533 so that the latter may be adjusted vertically relative to yoke I46 and be Yoke I49 has a fixed in any selected position 'of adjustment by 15 the locking collar I46 onscrew -l l-4;simi1art0 the locking collar I3I. However, substantial vertical adjustments of the position of toe-engaging member' I 38 may be quickly ei'fectedby sliding yoke I43 out of any particular pair of grooves I36and sliding it back in a higher or lower pair of grooves I36. Thetoe-engaging member I38 maybe additionally adjusted vertically by means of the screw I44 and locking collar I46. 4

Hence the toe-engagingmember I33 and th last engaging head I34quickly may be adjusted toaccommodate any particular sizes and styles of shoes for effective coaction with my improved movable and inflatable pad.

It will be obvious that my improved pad may be used without the chamber I8 being filled with liquid, in which casethe diaphragm 20 will conform itself generally to the shape of body I6 with approximately the entire space between wall It andwall 24 then being available for receiving air or other fluid under pressure when the pad "is being inflated.

In the operation of my improved press, the raising and lowering of the pad I4 by the toggles is not relied upon to apply any of the soleat-tachlng pressure. Elevation of the pad merely brings thepad into holding relation to the shoe parts and the inflation of the pad in its elevated position effects the pressing. Retraction or lowering of thepad occurs while the pad is in adeflated condition and the retraction ordinarily will be'onlysuflicien-t to facilitate insertion and removalof work.

While I have shown a single piston in a particular position for operating the toggles, the cylinder and piston may be otherwise arranged. Also, if desired the'cylinder may be located be tween the pair of toggles with a separate piston for each toggle operative in opposite end portions of the cylinder, or both cylinder and piston may be mounted for movement, each connected to one of the toggles.

, An essential feature of my improved pad res-idesin the provision of a pad havingan interior chamber whose shape and fluid-holding capacity are adapted to accommodate effectively any type and style of shoe that is likely to require a sole pressing operation thereon, and which includes means for reducing the effective capacity of the chamber when handling shoes whichdo not require inflation "and deflation of the maximum capacity of the fluid chamber of the pad. Hence, as herein represented, the pad interior may be divided by the flexible diaphragm 20 so that the lower chamber I8 may contain a body of fluid which remains constant in amount during operations of the press, so that only the upper chamber 36 needs tobe filled and evacuated for inflation and deflation of the pad, with the lower ch-amberserving as a readily deformable cushion wherein the constant body of fluid adjusts itself under pressure from above. However, I desire it .to be understood that the invention is not limited to a flexible diaphragm and a constant body of fluid for selectively varying the eflective capacity of the inflatable pad. Any suitable resiliently yieldable body may be employed in the lower portion of the pads interior. For example, a cake of resilient rubber of suitable size and contour may be arranged in .the bottom of the interlor chamber of the pad to serve as a fluid-displacing cushioning agent reducing the capacity of the portion of the interior of the pad which will be filled with fluid and evacuated for each inflation and deflation of the pad. a

chamber between said top section and said rigid bottom wall of the pad,1a rigid-support, fore and aft toggles supporting therpad above saidsu-pprt,

:a oylinder -with piston operable therein,,.said pis:-

ton having oonnectionto-the toggles forstraightening I the toggles to elevate-saidpad as an entirety when the pistonmoves-inone. direction in said cylinder and for breaking the togglesto retraotsaid pad when-the piston-movesin the other direction in said cylinder, means' f'or fluid pres.- sure "propulsion ofsaid .piston indirection .to straighten the toggles, and means, responsive. to

asaid fiuid' pressure; propulsion of therplStOllTOl' inflatingsaid pad in its-said elevated position.

2. In a shoe press, an inflatablepadcompris- .ing a; rigid :bottom wall extending. integrally throughout substantiallythe f-ulL-areaof the pad and amolded flexible top section-of. pad clamped inspaced relation tosaidbottom wall toprovide a iluidtightnchamber between them, a. support be.- low the pad, -fore and aft toggles; supporting the pad as an entirety 1 in spaced. relation-;above said support, fluid-pressure actuated means. ror

straightening saidtoggles thereby. to elevate said I padaas an-entirety relative to said support, and means responsive to a said straightening. of the toggles for-inflatingsaid pad in its. said elevated position.

7 -3. In a shoepress, aninfiatable padcomprising a rigid. bottom Wall extending integrally throughout substantiallythe run area of thepad' and a molded flexible top section of. pad clamped in. spaced relationsto said'bottom wall to provide a fluid tight chamber between them, a upport "below the pad, fore and aft toggles-supporting the pad in its entirety in spaced relationabove said support, a 'cylinder' mounted rigidly on said support, a pisto'nioperable' in the cylinder and connected to "said toggles, a fluid pressure-"supply "conduit, means in said'suppl'y conduit for admitting pressure "fluidto said cylinder thereby-to "move said piston in direction to straighten "said toggles withbonsequent elevation of said pad as an entirety relative -t0-saids'u'pport, 'aconnectin'g conduit leading betweensaid supply conduit and the interior chamber of' th'e pad, avalve normally closing said connecting conduit,-and mean-s responsive to saidis'tra'i'ghteningmovement; of the t'og'gl'es for e emn said valve thereby to admit pressure fluid to the interior chamber of thepad for inflating the pad-inits said elevated position.

"4. In a shoe press aninflatable pad, a support below the pad, toggles connected between the :pad' and the support maintaining the pad as an entirety spaced: above the support, fluid-pressure-responsive -means connected to the toggles,

and operative to straighten the toggles and .to thereby elevate the-entire pad, a fluid pressure supply conduit, means for admitting pressure fluid-from the supply conduit to saidfiuid pressure responsiv'e means 4 thereby to straighten the togglesand elevate-theentire pad, and means responsive to a said straighten-ing- -movement of the toggles for admitting pressure fluid from said-supply conduit. to the interior chamber of the-pad for'infiatingthe. pad.

'5. a shoe press, an inflatable .pad,- a support below the pad, toggles connected between the pad and the Supportmaintaining-the :pad

spaced ahovi fihEE" support. rfiuidtpressufeerer sponsivefmeans: connected: to." the; toggles-, and operativeato; straighten-the."toggles: to: there byelevate: therapadpavfluid; pressure. supply con.- duitgmeans; foriadmittingpressure sfluid from the supply conduit to Said.fluidHPlGSSUIGrIGSDOIISiVB means thereby to straighten the toggles; and elevate -.-the.- .-pad,, ameans responsive to. a said straightening imovementoof the toggles-for ad- .mitting )pressure: fluid. 'fromrsaid supply. conduit toythe: interior chamber of the, pad; for inflating the pad,;means-:- for: simultaneously. openingthe interior'chamber. ofi the-pad and said fluid-pres.- sureeresponsive means .to atmosphere; thereby to deflate the.- padand to permit breaking of the .togglesands retractionsof the; pad; and means retarding escape-twatmosphereof the pressure fluid in :said. .fiuid pressurerresponsivemeans thereby "to-delay.- breaking of. said toggles. until the .padhasbeendefiated.

6;.- In,a .sho.e press an inflatable pads compris -ing-a-rigidbottom wall. and. a..-molded-. flexible top sectiomofipad"clampedin spaced relation to said bottom wall tosprovideea fluidstight chambe! between them,.- a support; below thee-pad, fore and -,aft..toggl.es.supporting the-pad in spaced relation.- aboyasaid. s1 1p120rt,l a. cylinder-fixed rels .ative to said. support, a piston in: the cylinder connected. to said. .togglesf and. operable; in one directiontor-straighten the togglesto thereby elevatethe pad; a.-pressur.e: fluid: supply conduit, means for admitting pressure fluid from the supply. conduit to said cylinder thereby to move thetpistonwin-direction to: straighten. the toggles andelevate "the: .pad,.. means responsive to a said toggle-straightening.movement; of the piston for; admitting pressure: fluid from said supply conduit. to-the interior chamberof the pad, means for. opening 'the interior chamber of the pad. and saidcylinder to atmosphere thereby to deflate-the pad and-to condition the cylinder for movement of. the .pistonin direction to break the: toggles and to -retract the pad, and means for moving thepiston insaid. toggle-breaking direction. atas'lowrat'e thereby to. permit defiation of the. pad before the .pad. is appreciably retracted.

"7... Ina shoepress, an. inflatable pad foreand aft toggles operable for elevating andretracting the..pad,..means for operating .thejtoggles in direction to straighten themthereby to elevate the pad, afiiiidjpressure'"supply conduit, means responsive to a said straighteningv of. the toggles for. admitting. fluid. under .pressure to the pad ior inflating the ,pad .in its elevated position, means .for. opening the interior of the pad to atmosphere for. deflating. the pad, and means for operatinglthe-togglesin. direction to break them and. to. retract the. pad and for simultaneously closing, thev "opening .of "the .pad'to atmosphere. followirig'v deflation of the pad.

8. 'In a shoe press, an-infiatable :pad. comprising. a body having a. rigid, bottom: wall with integral. rigid. side walls extending. all around the: body, a-moldedtop section of pad made of relatively heavy flexible. material and impervious to fluids-said top section being secured to said rigid body and. defining therewithasubstantialfluid-tightchamber within theopad, a flexible 'diaphragm dividing said. chamber into upperrand-lower 'fluid-tightsub-chambers, means for supplying. the. lower sub-chamber with a fixed and? unchanging volumewof fluid;v a pressure-fluidasupply conduit; means -for elevating thepadwandxfor simultaneously --admitting fluid under pressure from said supply conduit to said upper sub-chamber of the pad thereby to inflate the pad in its elevated position, means for exhausting said upper sub-chamber to deflate the pad, and means for retracting the pad after deflation thereof and for simultaneously closing said exhaust means, the fluid in said lower subchamber continuing or" constant volume.

9. In a shoe press, an inflatable pad comprising a body having a rigid bottom wall, a fluid-impervious top wall of flexible material secured to said body and defining therewith a fluid-tight chamber between said bottom and top walls, a flexible fluid-impervious diaphragm dividing said chamber into upper and lower fluid-tight sub-chambers, means for maintaining a constant volume of fluid in said lower subchamber, a pressure fluid supply conduit, means for elevating the pad and for simultaneously admitting fluid under pressure from said supply conduit to said upper sub-chamber thereby to inflate the pad in its elevated position, means for exhausting said upper sub-chamber to deflate the pad, and means for lowering the pad following deflation thereof and for simultaneously closing said exhaust means, the volume of fluid in said lower sub-chamber continuing constant during inflation and deflation of the pad.

10. In a shoe press, an inflatable pad comprising a body having a rigid bottom wall, a molded top section of pad made of relatively heavy leather and having a top wall and integral depending side walls extending all around the section, means clamping the top section to the body to provide a fluid-tight chamber between said rigid bottom wall and said leather top wall, a fluid-impervious diaphragm dividing said chamher into upper and lower fluid-tight sub-chambers and including a hollow portion projecting from the general plane of the diaphragm into engagement with said rigid bottom wall, means for maintaining a constant volume of fluid in said lower sub-chamber, and means for admitting fluid under pressure to and for exhausting fluid under pressure from said upper sub-chamber through said projecting hollow portion of the diaphragm thereby to inflate and deflate the pad while the volume of fluid in said lower subchamber continues constant.

11. In a shoe press, an inflatable pad, a crosshead at a fixed elevation above the pad, a series of vertically spaced horizontal grooves in opposite sides of the cross-head, a shoe forepart engaging member suspended from the cross-head and having oppositely disposed tongues for slidably engaging in selected pairs of said series of grooves in the cross-head thereby to selectively set the elevation of the forepart engaging member and to select its position relative to the pad in the selected horizontal plane, an adjustable member depending from the cross-head in position for engaging the rear part of a last in a shoe upper structure mounted in the press, fore and aft toggles operable to elevate and retract the pad, a pressure fluid supply conduit, means for operating the toggles in direction to straighten them to elevate the pad and simultaneously to admit fluid under pressure from said supply conduit to the pad for inflating the pad in its elevated position, means for exhausting the pad to deflate it, and means for retracting the pad following deflation thereof and for simultaneously closing said exhaust means.

12. In a shoe press, an inflatable pad having a body including a rigid bottom 'wall extending integrally throughout substantially the full area of the pad, a flexible top section of pad clamped to the body and providing a fluid-tight chamber between said top section and said rigid bottom wall of the pad, a rigid support, toggle means supporting the pad as an entirety above said support, fluid-pressure actuating means connected to said toggle means for actuating the toggle means thereby to actuate the entire pad, means for fluid-pressure propulsion of said fluid-pressure actuating means thereby to actuate the entire pad in one direction, and means responsive to a said propulsion of the fluid-pressure actuating means for changing the fluid-pressure condition within the chamber of the pad.

PINCUS BRAUNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 244,583 Gifiord July 19, 1881 1,988,772 Ashton Jan. 22, 1935 2,337,093 Finn Dec. 21, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 105,467 Australia Oct. 12, 1938 622,673 Germany Dec. 28, 1933 

